Gary Johnson to run as Libertarian

Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson in Concord, New Hampshire, in October.

By NBC's Jo Ling Kent

EXETER, N.H. -- Former two-term New Mexico governor and GOP hopeful Gary Johnson is dropping out of the Republican nomination race to run as a Libertarian candidate, NBC News has confirmed.

Johnson's campaign spokesman Joe Hunter cited Johnson's lack of exposure within the Republican party as a main reason for his decision to seek the Libertarian nomination.

Johnson appeared in only two of more than a dozen nationally televised debates and had trouble getting his shoestring campaign off the ground in early states. He will make an official announcement next Wednesday at a press conference in Santa Fe.

"His exclusion from the debates and lack of acknowledgement from the Republican establishment has been very frustrating," Hunter told NBC News. "His commitment since day one to get his message out."

Johnson's decision has been anticipated since he paused his New Hampshire-centric campaign several weeks ago.

His strategy shift notably began when Johnson nearly missed the registration deadline for New Hampshire's primary in October.